THE BRUCE POTATO.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4189, 11 August 1892, Page 3

THE BRUCE POTATO.

In point of productiveness, cooking quality and diseasH-resisting power, the " Bruce" poUtus is now reckoned to be one of the best obtainable, and experience proves that the soil mid climuto of New Zealand is admirably Suited to it. It was originally Mued by Mr Archibald Fin-Hay, of Markinch, Fife, N.U., and was introduced to Southland by Mr I). Dun, of Ureenhill.Gore. Bearing onthesubjeotof the improvements iu potatoes, a writer in the Vtago Wilness said a year ago that experience bad shown " thai 15 years represents a long lease of life for any variety of potato, and new sorts, adapted Iu the soil, should be introduced every ten or twelve years, Tho potato known as the Denvent has in flew Zealand been the chief kind grown, and lias been grown for years beyoud the above-named limit, and those who have watched it for some years back must have noticed that it is deteriorating all along the line, At 1* present time perfectly clem, healtlily tubers are seldom seen in any quantity. The lease of life of the Derwents has been long, nnusiiallv long, because we have been able to grow it on virgin soil, but already tho signs of decadenco are upon it, and tho time bas arrived when some of tho newer kinds should form' our main potato crops." Another contemporary states that " the yield of the plot of' The Bruce' this season was equal to 11 tons 1(1 cwt per acre, being over 70 per cent more than that of Derwents grown alongside on same conditions."

The Wairarapa Farmers' Cooperative Asaooiation have a supply of seed potatoes of the " Bruce" variety, and potato growers Bhould certainly give the "Bruce," especially as it is stated to be able, to withstand from six to eight degrees more frost than most other kind n trial.